Combined portable typewriter and table with carrying case and stool



Sept. 19, 1961 Filed Oct. 50, 1958 J. K. M NEARY COMBINED PORTABLE TYPEWRITER AND TABLE WITH CARRYING CASE AND STOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

JOAN K. MACNEARY ATTORNEY 1 Sept. 19, 1961 J. K. M NEARY 3,000,633 COMBINED PORTABLE TYPEWRITER AND TABLE WITH CARRYING CASE AND STOOL Filed Oct. 30. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F I G. l3

INVENTOR.

JOAN K. MAC NEARY ATTO rgEY nited States This invention relates to a combined portable typewriter and table with carrying case, and with or without a stool and, more particularly, to such a device with collapsible legs which are housed in the case and with a handle which may serve for carrying the combined device.

Newspaper men or other correspondents frequently desire to use typewriters in crowded conferences or at sports events. Such may also be used in limited oflice space by the ofiice staffs of the Army or in other places where conventional typewriter desks are not available.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a combined typewriter and carrying case, with or without a stool, such comprising a box opening downward for enclosing a typewriter having a base, which base has four extensions depending therefrom, in combination with collapsible legs between said typewriter base and a base for closing the box opening and completing the case upon collapse of the legs.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a stool for such a combined typewriter and carrying case comprising a four-sided box with a bottom opening upward and legs hingedly mounted adjacent the bottom and inside said box so that they may be pulled to extended position and the box inverted for support on said legs.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a combination between such a combined typewriter and carrying case and a stool as above described.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a table which may have four collapsible legs, like the combined typewriter and carrying case, and be otherwise constructed such that the table top either takes the place of the typewriter or is an adjunct thereto.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken with the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration and do not define the scope or limits of the invention, reference being had for the latter purpose to the ap pended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote like parts in the several views: I

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of my combined typewriter and/or table and carrying case, including in the alternative a drawer which, when re moved from the case, may be set up as a stool.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the combination illustrated in FIGURE 1, only a fragmentary portion of the typewriter being illustrated.

FIGURE 3 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 2, but showing the collapsible legs of the combination in partly extended position.

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view, otherwise corresponding to FIGURE 3, but showing the collapsible legs fully extended or set up in rigidly held positions, with the drawer partly open and with an alternative slidable shelf portion illustrated in full lines as closed or retracted, and

without the enclosable box portion and showing a modification.

atent COMBINED PORTABLE TYPEWRITER AND TABLE FIGURE 7 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 6, but showing the collapsible legs in extended or rigid positions.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view, on a larger scale, from the right of FIGURE 7 and showing the details of one of the legs, slightly modified.

FIGURE 9 is an isometric view of the drawer of FIG- URE 4, after removal from the typewriter base, extension of the enclosed legs and reversal for use as a stool.

FIGURE 10 is a plan of the drawer after removal from the typewriter base, showing the legs in folded or collapsed position and enclosed in said drawer.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line XI-X[ of FIGURE 10 in the direction of the arrows, but showing the drawer in inverted position.

FIGURE 12 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 11 but showing one of the legs extended to floor-engaging position.

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view on the line XIII-XIII of FIGURE 12, in the direction ofthe arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first considering the embodiment of my invention in FIGURES l to 5, inclusive, there is shown a leg-supported device, such as a combined typewriter and/or table, carrying case and drawer, which is convertible into a stool, said combination being generally designated 20. The typewriter generally designated 21, only the base portion 22 being fully illustrated is, when in the enclosed position, represented in FIGURE 1, covered by a box portion 23 formed as a top wall 24, side walls 25 and opening downwardly to fit over the base portion 22. Suitable latching means, not shown, are desirably provided for preventing undesired removal of the box portion 23 from the base portion 22. Said base portion 22 has drawer slides 26 on which rest outstanding flanges or rails 27 outstanding from the sides 28 of a drawer, generally designated 29, so as to hold said drawer against the bottom face thereof or allow it to be withdrawn and inverted for use as a stool.

The drawer 29 is desirably provided with a lock 31 and a carrying handle 32, whereby when closed it may be locked with respect to the base 22 so that the handle 32 may function for carrying the entire combination when closed or in the position of FIGURE 1. The base 22 is desirably provided with a shelf portion 33 which may be slidable between full line position illustrated in FIGURE 4, Where it underlies the typewriter 21, and the dotted line position to function as a table for the support of articles used in the operation of the typewriter.

The base 22 has four lugs or extensions 34 depending from the bottom thereof and to which the upper ends of the upper sections of the collapsible legs 35 are pivotally connected by suitable means such as bolts and nuts, pins or rivets 36. These legs are desirably formed of light metal such as aluminum or an alloy thereof. The upper section of each leg 35 is desirably channel-shaped in cross-section, comprising a web 37 and flanges 38 at opposite sides thereof. These flanges are what embrace the lugs 34 and through which the pivot means 36 extend. The lower sections of the legs 35 are similarly formed except that the flanges 39 at opposite sides of the webs 41 thereof are more widely, or less widely spaced so that they lie in snugly embracing relationship with respect to the flanges 38 of the corresponding upper sections, as viewed most clearly in FIGURE 5.

Through the near overlapping flanges 38 and 39 of each leg there passes, snugly but without threadedly engaging, a thumb screw 42, the extreme end portion of which threadably engages the remote flanges 3 8 and 39. Each thumb screw also desirably passes through, without threadably engaging, a flange-spacing washer 43,

whereby upon tightening said thumb screws, after moving the legs to the position of FIGURE 3 or to that of v 3 FIGURES 4 and 5, said legs are held rigidly for the firm support of the typewriter 21 and/ or table portion 33 thereof. The bottom end of each leg is formed with its flanges extended outwardly to provide feet 44 which, when the legs are .fully extended, flatly engage the upper surface of a base 45. Said base 45 is used to close the opening of the box 23, and thereby complete the enclosure of the collapsed legs and drawer. A wall 25 of said box is notched as indicated at 49, to allow passage of the handle 32. Said base 45 has upstanding extensions or lugs 46 embraced by the flanges 39 and feet M, and to which said flanges and .feet are pivotally connected by suitable means such as pins, bolts and nuts, or rivets 47.

It will, therefore, be seen that the legs 35 may be either collapsed, as viewed in FIGURE 2, partially extended as viewed in FIGURE 3, or fully extended as viewed in FIGURE 4. In such partial or fully extended positions, these legs may be made rigid by tightening the thumb screws 42 so as to hold the typewriter and/ or table at a fixed height, as desired. The thumb nuts may have wings 48 extending therefrom, as shown in dotted lines, so as to allow for suitable tightening.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIGURES 6, 7 and 8, there is shown an alternative leg construction for a typewriter and/or table, such as shown in the preceding embodiment. In this form, as in the previous form, the base portion 22 of the typewriter and/or table has four lugs or extensions 34' projecting from the bottom thereof and to which the upper ends of the upper sections of the collapsible legs 51, in FIGURES 6 and 7, or 51' in FIGURE 8, desirably formed as in the preceding embodiment of light metal, such as aluminum or an alloy thereof, are pivotally connected as by suitable means such as bolts and nuts, pins, or rivets 52. The upper section of each leg is desirably channel-shaped in cross section, comprising a web 53 or 53' and flanges 54 or 54' at opposite sides thereof. These flanges are what embrace the lugs 34' and through which the pivot means 52 extend.

The upper sections of the legs 51 are similarly formed except that the flanges 54 at opposite sides of the webs 53 thereof are more widely spaced so that they lie in snugly-embracing relationship with the flanges 55 of the corresponding lower sections in the form of FIGURES 6 and 7, while the lower sections of the legs 51' have flanges 55 at opposite sides of the webs 56' thereof more widely spaced so that they lie in snugly-embrac ng relationship with the flanges 54 of the correspond ng upper sections, in the form of FIGURE 8. The engaging flanges of the respective sections in both forms are individually pivoted together by'suitable means, such as rivets 57 and 58, the adjacent ends or heads of wh ch are spaced to allow for passage of anpperating spring 59 therebetween.

Opposite ends of each spring 59 may be secured to the flanges 54 M54 and 55 or 55' of the respective upper and lower sections of the legs 51 or 51' by suitable means such as pins, bolts and nuts, or rivets passing therethrough or by such .means extending in from the webs or one of the webs of each leg. These springs are, when extended in sufiiciently stressed condition so that they hold the leg sections as toggles with the adjacent ends of the webs thereof abutting, as viewed most clearly in FIGURES 7 and 8, thereby preventing swinging of the legs outwardly beyond the positions illustrated in FIGURE 7.

The specific differences between the form of FIGURES 6 and 7 and that of FIGURE 8 are that in the first of these forms the more-widely-spaced flanges 54 of the upper leg sections are traversed by connecting means, such as rivets 75, to which the upper ends of the respective springs 59 are connected, and the less-widely-spaced flanges 55 of the lower leg sections are traversed by rivets or the like 76, to which the lower ends of the respective springs 59 are connected. These members 75 and 76 are spaced different distances from the respective pivot members 57 and 58 so that, upon collapsing to the position of FIGURE 6, the members 75 and 76 are not too closely spaced and thereby still hold the springs in generally straight positions, as represented in said figures, rather than all-owing them to sag down, as would be the case if said members were spaced equal distances from the pivoting means 57 and 58.

In order to avoid interference between the heads of the members 76 and the flanges 54 upon such collapse, said heads are countersunk, just as the heads of the members 75' in FIGURE 8 are countersunk. The flanges 55 of the lower members, where the members 75 engage them, as shown in FIGURE 6 may be notched, turned over, or upset, as indicated at 77, so as to allow for the reception of such members by said flanges, to thereby avoid interfering with the full collapsing thereof to the position of said figure.

In the form of FIGURE 8, on the contrary, the lesswidely-spaced flanges 54' of the upper leg sections are traversed by connecting means, such as rivets 75', to which the upper ends of the respective springs 59 are connected and the webs 56 of the lower leg sections have extending therethrough connecting means such as rivets or the like 76 to which the lower ends of the respective springs 59 are connected. These members 75' and 76 are spaced dilterent distances apart from the respective pivot members 57 and 58 for the same reason as that disclosed for the members 75 and 76.

In this case, however, interference is avoided by countersinking the heads of the members 75 to avoid engagement between them and the flanges 55 upon collapse of the legs. In the case of the members 76', however, these being in the webs 56', are not subject to engagement by the flanges 5'4 of the upper leg sections, even upon collapse, so there is no necessity of notching or upsetting the edges of such flanges as in the form of FIGURES 6 and 7. Otherwise, the form of FIGURE 8 is like that of FIGURES 6 and 7.

As in the first embodiment, the bottom end of each leg 51 or 51' is formed with its flanges extended outwardly to provide feet 61 which, when the legs are extended, flatly engage the upper surface of a base 62 used to close the opening of the box, which corresponds with the box 23 of the first embodiment, and thereby completes the enclosure of the collapsed legs and drawer, if used. The base 62 has upstanding extensions or lugs 63 embraced by the flanges and their feet 61 and to which the flanges are pivotally connected by suitable means, such as pins, bolts and nuts, or rivets 64.

It will, therefore, be seen that the legs 51 or 51' may be either collapsed, as viewed in FIGURE 6, or fully extended, as viewed in FIGURE 7 or FIGURE 8. Insuch fully-extended positions, these legs are held rigid by springs 59 so as to hold the typewriter and/or table at a fixed height. When in collapsed position, the springs 59 are housed between the upper and lower sections of their respective legs in the channels between the flanges and adjacent the webs thereof.

Referring now to the convertible drawer-stool 29, illustrated in FIGURES 9 to 13, inclusive, it will be seen that there are pivoted adjacent the drawer base 65, which has a notch 71 which may receive a pin 72, the ends of which are respectively secured in bifurcations 73 and 74 at the pivoted ends of said legs 66. When received in a notch 71, a pin '72 serves to hold vits leg 66 rigidly in extended seat-supporting position.

The release of said legs for folding to the collapsed,

overlapping or nested position, viewed most clearly in FIGURE 10, is permitted upon pushing up on the latches 68 to release them from their pins 72 and allow for the folding inwardly to diagonal or closed position, as illustrated in FIGURES and 11. It will be understood that this convertible drawer-stool is desirably used with the typewriter and/or table arrangement, but may be omitted if desired.

Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difliculty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A combined typewriter and carrying case, comprising a box opening downwardly for enclosing a typewriter, a generally rectangular base for said typewriter, four lugs depending one from adjacent each corner of said base, collapsible legs, the upper ends of which are respectively connected to said lugs, means individually associated with each of said legs for holding them extended when so desired, a base for closing the box opening and completing the case upon collapse of said legs, four lugs upstanding from said box base, the lower ends of said legs being respectively connected to said upstanding lugs and when in supporting positions extending approximately vertical between said upstanding and depending lugs.

2. A combined typewriter, carrying case and stool,

comprising a box opening downwardly for enclosing a typewriter, a base for said typewriter, four lugs depending from said base, collapsible legs, the upper ends of -which are respectively connected to said lugs, a base for closing the box opening and completing the case upon collapse of said legs, four lugs upstanding from said box base, the lower ends of said legs being respectively connected to said upstanding lugs, drawer slides depending from the bottom of said typewriter base, a drawer slidably carried thereby, a handle on the outer face of said drawer, means for locking the latter with respect to said typewriter base so that it will not slide and the drawer handle may serve as a handle for the combination, and drawer legs hingedly mounted inside of said drawer so that on removal of the latter from the slides, said legs may be pulled to extended position and the drawer inverted and supported on said legs to function as a stool for one using said typewriter.

3. The combination as recited in claim 2 wherein said collapsible legs are channel-shaped in section and each formed as upper and lower parts, each upper part being connected to a depending base lug by a pivot pin extending through its flanges and said lug, each lower part being connected to an upstanding lug on the case base by a pin extending through its flanges and said lug, the flanges of one of the parts of each leg embracing the flanges of the other part of each leg, and a screw on each leg passing through all of said leg flanges and pivotally connecting the parts of each leg, whereby when the legs are extended they may be held in rigid condition by tightening said screws.

4. The combination as recited in claim 2, wherein each of the legs of the combination is formed with upper and lower channel-shaped parts, the upper end of each upper part being pivoted to a depending lug on the typewriter base, the lower end of each lower part being pivoted to an upstanding lug on the case base and the flanges of the lower parts embracing the corresponding flanges of the upper parts and pivoted thereto, means preventing rotation of said upper and lower parts with respect to one another in one direction much beyond alignment, and resilient means for holding said legs still? in such position slightly beyond alignment, whereby they serve to rigidly support the typewriter when extended, said resilient means being enclosed in the leg members adjacent the webs and between the flanges thereof.

5. A table comprising a top portion, four lugs depending therefrom, collapsible legs, the upper ends of which are respectively connected to said lugs, a base for'supplementing the enclosure of the legs with respect to said top portion upon collapse of said legs, lugs upstanding from said base, the lower ends of said legs being respectively connected to said upstanding lugs, drawer slides depending from the bottom of said table, a drawer slidably carried thereby, a handle on the outer face of said drawer, means for locking the latter with respect to said table so that it will not slide and the drawer handle may serve as a handle for the combination, and drawer legs hingedly mounted inside of said drawer so that on removal of the latter from the slides, its legs may be pulled to extended position and the drawer inverted and supported on said legs to function as a stool for one using said table.

6. The combination as recited in claim 5, wherein said collapsible legs are channel-shaped in section and each formed as upper and lower parts, each upper part being connected to a depending table lug by a pivot pin extending through its flange and said lug, each lower part being connected to an upstanding lug on the base by a pin extending through the flanges and said lug, the flanges of the lower part of each leg embracing the flanges on the upper part of each leg, and a screw on each leg, passing through all of said leg flanges and pivotally connecting the parts of each leg, whereby when the legs are extended they may be held in rigid condition by tightening said screws.

7. The combination as recited in claim 5, wherein each of the legs of the combination is formed with upper and lower channel-shaped parts, the upper end of each upper part being pivoted to one of said depending lugs, the lower end of each lower part being pivoted to one of said upstanding lugs and the flanges of one of each of the leg parts embracing the corresponding flanges of the other part of the leg and pivoted thereto, means preventing rotation of said upper and lower parts with respect to one another in one direction much beyond alignment, and resilient means for holding said legs stiff in such position slightly beyond alignment, whereby when extended they serve to rigidly support the table, said resilient means being enclosed in the leg members adjacent the webs and between the flanges thereof.

8. A combined typewriter and carrying case comprising a box opening downwardly for enclosing a typewriter, a generally rectangular base for said typewriter, four lugs depending from adjacent each corner of said base, collapsible legs channel-shaped in section and each formed as upper and lower parts, each upper part being connected to one of said lugs by a pivot pin extending through its flanges and one of said lugs, a base for closing the box opening and completing the case upon col lapse of said legs, four lugs upstanding from adjacent each corner of said closing base, each lower part of each leg being connected to an upstanding lug on the closing base by a pin extending through the flanges and said lug, the flanges of the lower part of each leg embracing the flanges on the upper part of each leg, and a screw on each leg passing through all of said leg flanges and pivotally connecting the parts of each leg, whereby when the legs are extended they may be held in rigid condition by tightening said screws.

9. A combined typewriter and carrying case comprising a box opening downwardly for enclosing a type writer, a generally rectangular base for said typewriter, four lugs depending from adjacent each corner of said base, collapsible legs each formed with upper and lower channel-shaped parts, the upper end of each upper part being pivoted to a depending lug on the typewriter base, a base for enclosing the box opening and completing the case upon collapse of said legs, four lugs upstanda ing from adjacent each corner of said closing base, the lower end of each lower 'part being pivoted to an up standing lug on the enclosing base and the flanges of the lower parts embracing the corresponding flanges of the upper parts and pivoted thereto, means preventing rotation of said upper and lower parts with respect to one another in one direction much beyond alignment, and resilient means for holding said legs stiff in such position slightly beyond alignment, whereby they serve to rigidly support the typewriter when extended approximately vertical between said upstanding and depending lugs, said resilient means being enclosed in the leg members adjacent the webs and between the flanges thereof.

10. A table comprising a top portion, four lugs depending therefrom, collapsible legs channel-shaped in section and each formed as upper and lower parts, each upper part being connected to a depending table lug by a pivot pin extending through its flanges and said lug, a base for enclosing the legs with respect to said top portion upon collapse of said legs, lugs upstanding from said base, each lower part being connected to an upstanding lug on the enclosing base by a pin extending through its flanges and said lug, the flanges of the lower part of each leg embracing the flanges on the upper part of each leg, and a screw on each leg passing through all of said leg flanges and pivotally connecting the parts of each leg, whereby when the legs are extended they may be held in rigid condition by tightening said screws.

11. A table comprising a top portion, tour lugs depending therefrom, collapsible legs each formed with upper and lower channel-shaped parts, the upper end of each upper part being pivoted to a depending lug on the table, a base for enclosing the legs with respect to said top portion upon collapse of said legs, lugs upstanding from said base, the lower end of each lower part being pivoted to an upstanding lug onthe base and the flanges of the lower parts embracing the corresponding flanges of the upper parts .and pivoted thereto, means preventing rotation of said upper and lower parts with respect to one aonther in one direction much beyond alignment, and resilient means for holding said legs stifi in such position slightly beyond alignment, whereby when extended they serve to rigidly support the table, said resilient means being enclosed in the leg members adjacent the webs and between the flanges thereof.

12. In combination, a leg-supported device, drawer slides depending therefrom, a drawer with flanges carried by said slides and comprising a four-sided box with a bottom and open top, legs for said drawer so that it may be used as a stool when removed from said device, each leg being bifurcated with end portions bridged by a pin and hingedly mounted adjacent the bottom and inside of said box so that they may be pulled toextended position and the box inverted with its then upper surface forming a seat and supported on said legs, and means to rigidly lock each leg in seat-supporting position com prising a latch pivoted to the inner surface of the box bottom adjacent the hinged mounting of its leg and having a notch to receive the pin of its leg and hold the latte rigidly in extendcnd seat-supporting position. I

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 479,001 Holstein July 19, 1892 1,391,491 ODonnell .Sept. 20, 1921 1,959,950 Friedlander May 22, 1934 2,248,871 Howe July 8, 1941 2,291,967 Keahey Aug. 4, 1942 2,388,192 Stechbart Oct. 30, 1945 2,448,377 Lindner Aug. .31, 1948 2,547,754- Herrick Apr. 3, v1951 

